There are several causes of a bad root canal. The most common reason is inadequate filling of the canals. The filling may not have sealed the entire canal space and an unfilled area at the end of the root contains dead nerve material. This dead tissue rots, develops a root canal infection and results in root canal pain. Years ago overfilling used to be a problem since the older root canal fillings irritated the surrounding bone. This is less of a problem now because bio-compatible tissue friendly filling materials are widely in use today.
In most cases, a bad root canal can have root canal retreatment but the success rate of the therapy is much lower than with new root canals. If the root canal tooth continues to have problems then root canal surgery or a dental extraction are options. Unfortunately, a dead tooth can be brittle and one or more of the roots can crack during treatment. Protective cells attack the crack, cause inflammation and root canal pain. A root canal tooth can also crack at the top of the roots which is more serious.
A bad root canal can also be an incomplete or partial root canal. Many patients think that a root canal has been completed when they only had an emergency partial root canal. To work well, the root canal procedure must be completed so that the tooth is completely sealed off from the body. Otherwise, tissue liquids and bacteria can leak into and out of the roots. An x-ray of the tooth can show if it's complete. The filled area of the roots is colored white.
If you have a bad root canal that is bothering you and would like to schedule a free dental consultation appointment with Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky or Dr. Charles Chung, call 404-874-7428.The dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. You are welcome to join our family of patients. Because we know that dental pain can be terrible, our Financial Manager will do everything she can to assist you in making financial arrangements to save your tooth.